The First Day of Practice

The circumstances materialized seemingly out of nowhere. A week ago the connection in Xiamen said there might be a group of boys interested in being coached basketball by a foreigner in neighboring Quanzhou. Days of no news passed and the week long National Holiday began on the 1st. That same day, a text message written in Chinglish seemed to confirm a 6am practice. Really 6am?

Come this morning it all made sense. The Outside courts and a quickly rising sun made for an ever sweatier morning. The boys stepped onto the court laughing and joking around, kicking balls and cussing. They left it in about the same way, but maybe with a new respect on how to play the game.